Affleck’s impromptu trim happened in the hallway of Craig’s Restaurant, West Hollywood, apparently because “his family was tired of the beard.”

A source told E! News: “He did it to mark the end of a chapter. It had that ceremonial quality to it.''

Earlier, in an emotional acceptance speech for Best Film, Affleck told the Academy: "You have to work harder than you think you possibly can. It doesn't matter how you get knocked down in life because that's going to happen. All that matters is you have to get up.”

The lucky beard had definitely lived up to its name – seeing the 40 year-old’s film bag three Oscars, two BAFTAs, a Directors Guild of America Award, a Producers Guild of America Award and two Golden Globes.

Ben had previously admitted wife Jennifer Garner, and their three young children, were hardly fans of the fuzz – grown for Affleck’s part as in CIA “exfiltration expert” Tony Mendez in ‘Argo’.

''My wife is a very polite and kind woman,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “She and the kids did not like the beard. It had an exposed wire vibe. It was hated in my home.''